Stupid Republican Tricks

WA State Rep. Doug Ericksen (R) 42nd LD is trying to sticking his nose into the Nooksack Tribes business...

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... President Bush, responding to a question about what tribal sovereignty meant in the 21st century, said: "Tribal sovereignty means just that; it's sovereign. You're a -- you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity."

To many Native Americans -- and Democrats, alike -- the president's answer spoke volumes about what they see as his ignorance of Indian issues. And to many, the operative word in Bush's response was the verb "given."

As the continent's first societies, American Indian tribes hold their status as sovereign nations with an almost sacred reverence; an inherent standing as self-governing, independent bodies dating back millennia, something that's always existed. ... (Friday, August 13, 2004(source))

Confusion about Sovereignty isn't confined to George Bush; WA State Representative Doug Ericksen , (R-Ferndale) is having trouble too.

The Nooksack Tribe is planning to build a new Casino on trust land North of Lynden in Whatcom County and the neighbors don't like it.

Even though the State has no jurisdiction over Tribal Land, Rep. Ericksen (R-Ferndale) has decided to get involved:

Date: June 08, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
... Ericksen also plans to send a letter to the Nooksack Tribal Chairman requesting that his tribe abandon its plan to build its new Northwood Crossing tribal casino in the heart of rural farmland north of Lynden. Ericksen has led public forums on the controversial issue. The proposed casino has drawn the ire of many area residents who are worried about various problems evolving from the increased activity in the rural community.

"These are very important issues to our communities and I'm encouraging local elected officials and community leaders to get involved. I've offered them a vehicle to do so - they can sign on to letters that I'm sending to appropriate officials by going to my website," said Ericksen. "This sign-on option isn't an end-all though. Concerned citizens are also encouraged to write their own letters and make their own phone calls about these issues. If they need contact information, my office can offer assistance." ...

Ericksen is responding to (or perhaps stirring up) citizens worries like:

“Our concerns, in a nutshell, are that economically, socially, agriculturally, it is a poor siting,” said 37-year-old Colleen Wolfisberg, yelling over the occasional horn of a passing car or semi truck near the existing Nooksack River Casino in Deming. (source)

BUT - Where was Rep. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) a year ago when Ferndale citizens were trying to get their concerns addressed?

Ferndale Citizens for Wise Growth
We are opposed to a regional mall located along I-5 between Axton and Smith Rd. for the following reasons:
1. Increased taxes
2. Increased traffic congestion
3. Increased crime
4. Negative impact on historic Ferndale & Local Businesses

When it was Ferndale's citizens struggling to get the Mayor and City Council to listen to what worried them, Rep. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) was nowhere to be found, he was uninterested and unresponsive. Could it be that in this election year he has suddenly found his sense of community involvement... especially when it doesn't involve bucking land developers who've traditionally backed him.